Archive for December, 2015

Chris Lynn of the Brisbane Heat with Kumar Sangakkara at the Gabba before the Tuesday Big Bash T20 match — Pic by Peter Wallis

SANGAKKARA: “Chris is a guy who on any given day can turn a match completely on its head,” . “Chris has got power; he’s got touch. But at the same time he’s got real positive intent and that’s exactly what you need in T20. He’s got a great future ahead of him and is one of the best young Australian players going around.”

This was in the morning of the 29th December. That evening, as the Heat XI chased a daunting total of 194 Chris Lynnscored 101 runs in 51 balls –a strike rate of 198.03 !!Read the rest of this entry ?

New Zealand made mincemeat out of the Sri Lankan batting and hammered the bowling to the kingdoms beyond inn two consecutive ODIs. Home advantage is not the only reason surely. Sri Lanka’s batting was poor, the Kiwi bowling attack (with several reserves in the squad) was sharp, the fielding in the second ODI was brilliant. But WOW what a gap in performance and thus in implied capacity between the two sides.Congratulations to New Zealand, its pacies … and to Guptill yesterday for a brilliant innings –outdoing Jayasuriya in his prime and matching Ab Villiers today…

It is human error in the Third Umpire’s Room that has caused some critical mistakes in umpiring in recent cricket matches. First by Nigel Llong in Adelaide and now by Richard Ketleborough in Hamilton. Ian Smith stormed out of the TV commentary rooms telling the world [around him] that the Third Umpire’s error could cause the Kiwis the match. Well might Russel Arnold have climbed the walls in Hamilton in the same style! The error was worse in fact: Kettleborough overturned an on-field “NOT OUT” where Llong confirmed an on-field error.

Hot Spot

While several years of DRS experience has sharpened on-field decisions by the world’s battery of umpires, it appears that certain paths//facets of the technology are still not understood by some umpires (and maybe by all of the umpiring fraternity). I am not a technological wizard, but two comments by ordinary blokes in ESPNcricinfo reveal wizards of the kind we need …. as instructors to the whole class of top-umpires. I quote them below, but add my two bits worth first.

What was the common factor in the two major errors under discussion, that in Adelaide and that in Hamilton?The decision went in favour of the home side. SO… is that coincidence or cause?Read the rest of this entry ?

David Hopps, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, where the title is “In Quest of Peter Roebuck” … commenting on Chasing Shadows: The Life and Death of Peter Roebuck By Tim Lane and Elliot Cartledge,Hardie Grant 298 pages, £12.99

Four years after the death of Peter Roebuck when he fell from the sixth floor of the Southern Sun hotel in Cape Town, a praiseworthy attempt has been made to explain the circumstances – indeed, the life’s journey – that led to his demise. Chasing Shadowswill not entirely succeed in ending the conjecture surrounding one of cricket’s most private figures but it is a well-balanced and responsible study of an ultimately tragic existence and, as such, for many of those disturbed by the events leading up to his death it will bring both reassessment and closure. By that measure alone, this is an important work.

Roebuck, a diligent county cricketer but one who never played for England, gained more approval as an outstanding wordsmith. But both his cricket and his journalism play secondary roles in Chasing Shadows to the analysis of the events leading up to his death. What led this closed-off, concealed individual to fall to his death? And how much truth really lies behind the charges of sexual abuse that were made against him – latterly by a 26-year-old Zimbabwean man – and were the cause of a knock at the door by Cape Town police shortly before his life ended? Read the rest of this entry ?

Andrew Fidel Fernando, courtesy of ESPNcricinfo, 19 December 2015, where the title is “Jayasundera dismissal causes another DRS stir”

Sri Lanka bowling coach Champaka Ramanayake said the DRS system had “a lot of errors”, in the wake of what seemed to be an incorrect DRS call which cost Sri Lanka a wicket. Third umpire Richard Kettleborough had overturned Paul Reiffel‘s not-out decision on a caught-behind call on batsman Udara Jayasundera in the 23rd over of Sri Lanka’s second innings. There appeared to be no conclusive evidence that the batsman had gloved the ball on snicko or hotspot, but Kettleborough may have instead relied on a seeming deviation from the glove. This deviation, seen from a rear camera angle, was later shown to be an optical illusion.

Sri Lanka cricket team captain Angelo Mathews (R) speaks with the umpire RA Kettleborough during the final day of their third and final cricket Test match against Pakistan at the Sharjah International Cricket Stadium, in the Gulf emirate of Sharjah, on January 20, 2014. Pakistan pulled off a thrilling five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the third and final Test in Sharjah, levelling the series at 1-1. AFP P PHOTO/ISHARA S. KODIKARA (Photo credit should read Ishara S.KODIKARA/AFP/Getty Images) — in Hamilton the Third Umpire mis-reading the DRS vis a vis Jayasundera’s dismissal was Kettleborough

VISIT ESPNcricinfo …or FOXTEL now to marvel at an unfolding scenario that can bemuse cricket watchers! … …………………………………………………………………………………………It’s been happening …

Yes NOW!! ……………midday in Australia … and late afternoon evening in North Island

Generated by IJG JPEG Library .. KIWI BOUNCER MEN ON SONG

Sri Lankan cricketer Dushmantha Chameera (R) celebrates the dismissal of Pakistan cricketer Zulfiqar Babar during the opening day of the second Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan at the P. Sara Oval Cricket Stadium in Colombo on June 25, 2015. Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq won the toss and elected to bat in the second Test against Sri Lanka at the P. Sara Oval in Colombo. AFP PHOTO / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI (Photo credit should read LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP/Getty Images) …

The Agar family in 2010 – from left: Will, Ashton and Wes. Picture: Hilton Stone

ONE: “Another Agar n the Rise,” =Aaron Pereira,

Wesley Agar, youngest brother of Ashton, on the cusp of state honours. The days of being known simply as “Ashton’s little brother” are numbered for Wes Agar. The tearaway quick has forged his own path, not dissimilar to Ashton’s before him although not nearly as glamorous. For Ashton, it was a contract with Western Australia, an entrenched kinship with his state teammates and a retainer that not many would scoff at. For 18-year-old Wes, it’s an unfamiliar state, a host family and a grade club opportunity with no guarantee of a Redbacks contract.

But that hasn’t deterred the youngest Agar, who is determined to earn a state call-up without the need to draw on his increasingly well-regarded name. “The move to South Australia has been awesome for my game,” Agar told cricket.com.au. “I’ve had a few coaches really help me but another reason to move was to really grow up and take responsibility for my game.”

Agar has also heeded the lessons of his big brother, having witnessed first-hand how quickly the fortunes of a first-class cricketer can rise and fall. And so he viewS a possible trip to Bangladesh for the Under 19 ICC Cricket World Cup with no small degree of caution. “If I can perform and keep bowling fast and take wickets I can definitely have a good crack, but I’m not looking at that,” he said of the tour. “If it comes, then great, but if not, I’ll just keep working hard.”

Wes Agar in action at the Under 19 National Championships in Adelaide // Sweep Photography

If you looked at Wes’ stats through the junior ranks, you might be mildly impressed. If you saw his figures now, your interest would spike. But if you actually watched his bowling style and the manner in which he ferociously attacks opposing batsmen, you’d be sold. Think of the ‘Rawalpindi Express’, Shoaib Akhtar: similar action, same hair.

Standing at 192cm, slightly taller than brother Ashton, Wes has been clocked at above 130kph and puts his height to good use, sending even the tallest batsman onto the back foot. And while his batting doesn’t possess the simple finesse of Ashton’s, no-one ever questioned Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee were never questioned about their work with the willow.

Even matriarch of the Agar family, Sonia, is in Adelaide to watch Wes ply his trade, opting against a trip to Perth for the Warriors shield match, a game in which Ashton subsequently scored a century. Mum has probably seen enough backyard battles to write a cricket novel, though interestingly Wes says the star performer there was often middle brother Will.

“It was different every time – some days I would win, some days Ashton would win and I have another brother Will (who plays for St. Kilda in the Victorian Premier Competition) who probably won most of the battles,” he recalled.

Currently contesting the Under 19 National Championships for his newly-adopted state, Wes took 5-37 against Tasmania, his pace often proving too much for the batsmen of the under-age tournament. “It’s a good learning experience for me, especially getting the new ball,” he said. “I probably haven’t bowled better than that five-wicket-haul but I could probably bowl better early doors to help the side. “Obviously my goal is to bowl as fast as I can but you have to be smart about it, know your batsman’s strengths and weaknesses.”

On the fringe of state selection, Wes has one goal in his sights and something to add to the ever-growing Agar trophy room. “I think a Baggy Green is everyone’s goal who plays in these tournaments,” he said. “That is the dream.”

Wes Agar says he is ready to burst on to the cricket scene, just like older brother Ashton did when he made a shock Test debut for Australia in England earlier this year.The 16-year-old quick will make his first XI Premier Cricket debut for Richmond against St Kilda at Glen Waverley’s Central Reserve on Saturday and today told Leader he is “so excited”.

With solid form, he took 4-29 in the second XI last week, and an ankle injury to Ben Torney has paved the way for Agar’s selection.

Ashton made international headlines in July when he smashed 98 on debut in the opening Test match of the Ashes series. The younger Agar said he also considered his selection a shock. “At the start of the year I thought I’d be playing fours and hoped I’d get a game in the threes, but then I was picked in the twos and started getting wickets,” he said.”Two days ago the Big Wiz (captain-coach Al Wise) sent me a text asking me to call him when I could so, at recess, I rang him and he told me I was playing. I’m lucky there’s been an injury and some unavailability.”

Ashton is currently in Melbourne playing for Western Australia in a Sheffield Shield match against Victoria at the MCG and was thrilled when Wes delivered him the news last night.

“I came home from the gym and Ash was in the lounge room and I told him I was playing ones and he gave me a big hug and we jumped around screaming,” Agar said. “I always listen to and try to do what everyone says and Ash always tells me ‘don’t be stupid, just do what you do’ so I’ll be taking his advice.”

Agar will bowl to a familiar face on Saturday in star St Kilda batsman and triple Ryder Medallist Graeme Rummans. “I’m trialing for the Victorian under-17 team and he’s my coach,” Agar said. “He’s an awesome player and, yeah, I’m going to try and get him out.”

Agar will wear a pair of Australian all-rounder Steve Smith’s gloves when he bats. Smith generously gave him 15 pairs in the Australian dressing room after play during the First Test at Trent Bridge.